The 10 Most Important Players In 2009: #8

8. Gerald Hodges, Saf. (Fr.)--Again, why the underclassman? Quite simply, Hodges--who enrolled in January to go through spring practice--is Penn State's best chance at having a true difference-maker at safety. Drew Astorino is a solid playmaker who will replace Anthony Scirrotto at free safety, and Andrew Dailey might start the first 4 games at strong safety, but Hodges is the only one who can actually change the way opposing teams play offense. Often physically compared to USC All-American Taylor Mays (both were 6'3" 220, who could run a sub 4.5 forty-yard dash coming out of high school), Hodges showed his extreme but raw talent in the Blue-White game when he delivered several big hits on pass plays over the middle. If Hodges can learn the defensive scheme quickly and break into the starting lineup (or at least get "starter minutes") he will provide a dimension at safety that Penn State has not seen since before its 2005 resurgence: size, speed, and freakish athleticism. This added dimension should go a long way in fixing the secondary issues exposed by USC in the Rose Bowl and turn a defensive question mark into a strength.